DirecTV Leaving, Replaced by Sky

The exclusive provider of satellite digital television service DirecTV in Costa Rica – Comunicaciones Inalámbricas de Centroamérica S.A. (COINCA) – is shifting all its subscribers over to Sky, a digital satellite television platform offered by Mexican company Novavision and with links to News Corporation’s Sky Global Network.

COINCA President and General Manager Luis Lépiz said the company is making the move because Sky has more advanced technology and more options for consumers, which he added will be important for the company if the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) is approved in a referendum this October and brings more competition to the market.

The change means that COINCA employees will be swapping all their customers’ DirecTV equipment for the Sky platform. Lépiz said the changeover should take from four to six months, and be completed at no cost to customers.

DirecTV service will continue until the Sky changeover is complete, at which time DirecTV will no longer be offered here.

The Sky service will offer 35 channels in addition to what DirecTV offers at the moment. Customers will have access to a total of 210 channels.

Lépiz said DirecTV customers make up 12% of the paid TV market in Costa Rica.